Display block



Patented Oct. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES FATENT OFFICE DISPLAY BLOCK Willis E. Longenecker, Canton, Ohio Application October 8,

2 Claims.

The invention relates to display blocks for use in building up displays in show-windows, showcases and the interiors of stores for displaying merchandise.

The object of the invention is to provide a set of display blocks of two different shapes and of a plurality of sizes in each shape adapted. to be assembled to produce a wide variety of ornamental structures of artistic appearance for use in connection with window or counter displays for supporting merchandise in various artistic arrangements.

Another object is to provide a set of display blocks comprising a plurality of rectangular blocks with arcuate ends varying in length and width but all of the same thickness, and a plurality of right prisms of cross-sectional dimensions equal to the thickness of the first mentioned blocks and varying in length corresponding to the widths of the several rectangular blocks with arcuate ends.

Another object is to provide such a set of blocks in which the rectangular blocks with arcuate ends vary in length and width from each other the amount of the thickness of said blocks.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawing and following description, or which may be hereinafter referred to may be attained by constructing the improved set of display blocks in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the largest of the rectangular blocks with arcuate end;

Fig. 2, a longitudinal edge view of the same;

Fig. 3, a perspective View of one of the largest of the right prisms;

Fig. 4, an end View of the same;

Fig. 5, a perspective view of the next smaller rectangular block with arcuate end;

Fig. 6, a longitudinal edge view of the same;

Fig. '7, a perspective View of the corresponding right prism;

Fig. 8, an end view of the same;

Fig. 9, a perspective view of the smallest of the rectangular blocks with arcuate end;

Fig. 10, a longitudinal edge view of the same;

Fig. 11, a perspective view of the smallest of the right prism;

Fig. 12, an end view of the same; and

Fig. 13, a perspective view of one of the many ornamental structures of artistic appearance which may be constructed with the set of blocks illustrated in Figs. l'to 12, inclusive.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

1938, Serial No. 234,026

Referring to the drawing, the numeral !5 indicates the largest of the rectangular blocks with arcuate end, this block having two parallel fiat surfaces l6 and I! each of which merges at one end into the arcuate surfaces 18 and Ill respec- :5 tively producing an arcuate end portion having a flat end surface 26 corresponding in size and shape to the opposite flat end surface 2| of the block and offset from the flat surface It a distance equal to the thickness of the block.

The side edges 22 of the block are fiat and parallel to each other and of the same thickness as the end surfaces 20 and 2|.

These blocks may be formed of any suitable material, but are, preferably, formed of heavy 15 card-board or the like and may be re-inforc'ed internally by any well-known means and the outer surfaces may be ornamented as by pasting or otherwise attaching decorative paper or the like ofany desired color or design as is custom- 2o ary in devices of this general character.

The blocks such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 are made in several sizes to form. a complete set of display blocks, and a right prism is made of corresponding size to accompany each of these 25 blocks in the set.

Preferably, three sizes of each of these two shapes of blocks forms a complete set although, if desired, duplicates of one or all of the blocks may be added toa set in order to produce various so other ornamental structures.

The next smaller block of the same shape is shown in Figs. 5 and 6 and the end walls 20a and 21a and side edge walls 22a are of the same thickness as the walls 20, 2| and 22 in the block shown 1 in Figs. 1 and 2, but the block l5a shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is. shorter and narrower than the block shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the difference in both length and width being equal to the thickness of the block, that is, the width of the walls 20, 2! and 22.

The smaller of the three blocks of this shape is shown in Figs. 9 and 10, being indicated generally at [51) and the end walls 201) and 2lb and side edges 2217 are of the same thickness as the 5 corresponding walls of the blocks l5 and 15a, but this block is both shorter and narrower than the block shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the difference in both length and width being the same as the thickness of the block. 50

A set of the improved display blocks includes a right prism corresponding to each of the above described blocks. For instance, as shown in Figs.

3 and 4, a right prism indicated generally at 23 corresponds to the block shown in Figs. 1 and 2, u

the length thereof being equal to the width of the block l5, each side Wall 24 of the prism being of the same size and shape as the end walls 20 and 2| of the block IS, the end walls 25 of the prism are square, the cross-sectional dimensions thereof being the same as the thickness of the block l5, that is the same as the width of any of the edge Walls 20, 2| or 22 thereof.

The right prism 23a, shown in Figs. '7 and 8, corresponds in length to the width of the block la and is of the same cross-sectional dimensions as the right prism 23, while the right prism 23b corresponds in length to the width of the block I52) and is of the same cross-sectional size and shape as the prisms 23 and 23a.

By forming the blocks in the relative sizes and shapes illustrated and described, a great variety of combinations of structures of ornamental artistic appearance may be built up with the blocks to be used in displays of merchandise of various kinds, one such structure being shown in Fig. 13 for the purpose of illustration.

It will be seen that by offsetting the arcuate end of each of the blocks l5, l5a and I5b a distance equal to the thickness of these blocks, and by forming the right prisms of a cross sectional size equal to this same thickness of the larger blocks, the various structures, such as indicated in Fig. 13 may be built up of the two shapes of blocks and all of the fiat surfaces of the blocks l5, l5a and 151) may be located in parallel planes.

I claim:

1. Building block construction for use in building up displays in show windows and the like comprising a rectangular block having fiat parallel surfaces terminating at one end only in an arcuate end ofiset from the body of the block a distance equal to the thickness of the block, adapted to be combined with other similar blocks of the same or a greater or less width and of the same thickness, so that when the blocks are built up with their arcuate ends disposed toward each other and overlapped their fiat surfaces will be parallel,

2. Building block construction for use in building up displays in show windows and the like comprising a rectangular block having fiat parallel surfaces terminating at one end only in an arcuate end oifset from the body of the block a distance equal to the thickness of the block, adapted to be combined with other similar blocks of the same or a greater or less Width and of the same thickness, so that when the blocks are built up with their arcuate ends disposed toward each other and overlapped their flat surfaces will be parallel, and a right prism adapted to be combined to form structures with other similar right prisms of the same, or greater or less length, and with the rectangular blocks, the right prisms having a thickness equal to the thickness of the rectangular blocks so that the right prisms may be placed beneath the rectangular blocks for suporting them in position parallel to each other.

WILLIS E. LONGENECKER. 

